Zeeslag bij Duins (linker tekstblad), 1639 1640

This text block, made by Salomon Savery in 1639, is a printed account of the Battle of the Downs, a naval engagement during the Eighty Years' War. The printmaking process itself is central to understanding its significance. Consider the labor involved: from the initial carving of the text onto a copper plate, to the repetitive work of inking and pressing each sheet. This was a skilled trade, but one increasingly geared toward mass production. The relatively small size of the print also speaks to its intended use as a portable and easily disseminated form of news. The stark black-and-white aesthetic, born of the engraving process, lends a sense of authority to the text. The dense columns of type leave little room for embellishment, emphasizing the factual nature of the account. Yet, the inclusion of decorative initials and a small, detailed depiction of the battle also reveal the printer's artistry. In essence, this printed text represents a confluence of craft, commerce, and politics, reflecting the rapidly changing social landscape of 17th-century Europe.